heroism, succeeded in gaining the freedom and independence of their country. Their descendants continued to reign in Jerusalem for about 100 years, when a violent dispute arose amongst them, which ended in the subjugation of the city by the Romans under Pompey, B.C. 63. Then followed the most momentous period in its history-the appearance of Jesus Christ, who, as you all know, was born in the time of Herod, and crucified under Pontius Pilate. Some time after this the Jews rebelled against the tyranny and rapacity of the Roman governors. This rebellion ended in the final subjugation and dispersion of the Jews, and the entire destruction of their Temple, A.D. 70. Jerusalem has suffered much since that time; it has witnessed many strange sights, and has had many new masters; but as I intend to give you a few lessons on the history of Palestine, in which I shall have to say a great deal about Jerusalem, I will wait till that period before I tell you anything more. Examination. (Mixed Methods.) When was Jerusalem founded? What hills did it occupy? By whom was it afterwards taken? Who were the Jebusites? What did they do to the city? Who expelled them from the lower town? By whom were they driven from the fortress? When did Jerusalem become the metropolis of Palestine? Give the boundaries of the Jewish empire under Solomon. By what remarkable circumstance is Solomon connected with the history of Jerusalem? From what kings did the city afterwards suffer? Give the date of the Babylonian captivity. Who was king of Judah at this time? Who king of Babylon? How long were the Jews in exile? By whom were they permitted to return? Who was Cyrus? How could Cyrus, a king of Persia, restore the Jews to their own country? What work did the Jews commence on their return? What did the aged Jews think of this temple? By whom was Persia conquered? What became of his kingdom at his death? What effect had this upon Palestine? What king of Egypt attacked and plundered Jerusalem? By whom were great cruelties exercised towards the Jews? Give the date. What decree did Antiochus issue? What brave family resisted it? What was their success? How long did their descendants govern Palestine? What led to their losing the government? By whom was it taken from them? Give the date of this event. What momentous period in the history of Jerusalem follows this? In whose reign was he born? Under whose government was he crucified? What occurred after this? What was the end of this rebellion against the Romans? Give the date of this event. LESSON X. Towns in the North of Judea.* 1. Joppa, JaffA. Forty miles N. W. from Jerusalem-Describe the town-Population about 4000— Manufactures soap-The only sea-port of the Jews -Cedars sent hither from Tyre-Jonah-TabithaPeter's vision. 2. LYDDA, LUD. Ten miles S. E. from JoppaPeter and Eneas-Church of St. George-Modin. 3. AI, OR HAI. Twelve miles N. E. from Jerusalem-Abraham pitched his tent here-Taken by Joshua-Achan. MICHMASH, MUKHMAS. Nine miles N. E. from Jerusalem Scene of Jonathan's adventure with the Philistines-Mukhmâs. GIBEAH OF BENJAMIN, JEBA. Seven miles N. E. from Jerusalem. Benjamites-Birth-place of SaulThe Gibeonites and Saul's seven sons-Rizpah-Jeba. 4. JERICHO, RIHA. Twenty miles N. E. from Jerusalem-First city taken by the IsraelitesMode of capture-The curse-Fulfilled in Hiel the Bethelite 450 years afterwards-Zedekiah taken Bartimeus - Zaccheus Good by the Chaldees Samaritan-Rîha-The fountain. The subject of this lesson is so simple as not to admit of, or at least not to require, any general division. 5. BETHANY, EL-AZIREZEH. Two miles E. from Jerusalem-Town of Martha and Mary-Lazarus -Mary, in the house of Simon-The AscensionEl-Azirezeh. 6. GIBEON. Five miles N. W. from JerusalemStratagem of Gibeonites-Abner defeated by Joab -Asahel-Solomon-El-Jib-Pool of Gibeon. LESSON. There are many towns in Judea, besides Jerusalem, which are interesting to us from their being mentioned in Scripture as the scenes of important events. I cannot give you, in one lesson, a particular account of them all, so I will select those of greatest interest and importance, and pass by the others simply telling you where they are, and for what remarkable. It will be convenient, and assist you to remember the places spoken of, to divide the lesson into two parts: in the first part I will tell you something about the towns in the north, and in the second something about the towns in the south of Judea. 1. JOPPA. One of the most ancient towns in Judea is Joppa, now called Jaffa. It is about 40 miles north-west from Jerusalem, and stands on a conical eminence jutting out into the sea. Viewed from the Mediterranean Joppa has a pleasing appearance. The hill side upon which it stands is so steep that the houses seem almost to stand one on the top of another. They are built chiefly of white stone, and in the distance have an imposing effect. The roofs are flat, and many of them have domes on the top. The interior of the town has a dull, gloomy, comfortless aspect. The streets are narrow and uneven, and, like those of most eastern cities, exceedingly dirty. whole town is surrounded with a wall, excepting the western side, which is bounded by the sea. North and south of the town extends the Plain of Sharon, which in these parts is little better than a desert. The exercised towards the Jews? Give the date. What decree did Antiochus issue? What brave family resisted it? What was their success? How long did their descendants govern Palestine? What led to their losing the government? By whom was it taken from them? Give the date of this event. What momentous period in the history of Jerusalem follows this? In whose reign was he born? Under whose government was he crucified? What occurred after this? What was the end of this rebellion against the Romans? Give the date of this event. LESSON X. Towns in the North of Judea.* 1. JOPPA, JAFFA. Forty miles N. W. from Jerusalem-Describe the town-Population about 4000Manufactures soap-The only sea-port of the Jews -Cedars sent hither from Tyre-Jonah-Tabitha— Peter's vision. 2. LYDDA, LUD. Ten miles S. E. from JoppaPeter and Eneas-Church of St. George-Modin. 3. AI, OR HAI. Twelve miles N. E. from Jerusalem Abraham pitched his tent here-Taken by Joshua-Achan. MICHMASH, MUKHMAS. Nine miles N. E. from Jerusalem Scene of Jonathan's adventure with the Philistines-Mukhmâs. GIBEAH OF BENJAMIN, JEBA. Seven miles N. E. from Jerusalem. Benjamites-Birth-place of SaulThe Gibeonites and Saul's seven sons-Rizpah-Jeba. 4. JERICHO, RIHA. Twenty miles N. E. from Jerusalem-First city taken by the IsraelitesMode of capture-The curse-Fulfilled in Hiel the Bethelite 450 years afterwards-Zedekiah taken by the Chaldees - Bartimeus - Zaccheus - Good Samaritan-Rîha-The fountain. * The subject of this lesson is so simple as not to admit of, or at east not to require, any general division. 5. BETHANY, EL-AZIREZEH. Two miles E. from Jerusalem-Town of Martha and Mary-Lazarus -Mary, in the house of Simon-The Ascension— El-Azirezeh. 6. GIBEON. Five miles N. W. from Jerusalem— Stratagem of Gibeonites-Abner defeated by Joab -Asahel-Solomon-El-Jib-Pool of Gibeon. LESSON. There are many towns in Judea, besides Jerusalem, which are interesting to us from their being mentioned in Scripture as the scenes of important events. I cannot give you, in one lesson, a particular account of them all, so I will select those of greatest interest and importance, and pass by the others simply telling you where they are, and for what remarkable. It will be convenient, and assist you to remember the places spoken of, to divide the lesson into two parts: in the first part I will tell you something about the towns in the north, and in the second something about the towns in the south of Judea. 1. JOPPA. One of the most ancient towns in Judea is Joppa, now called Jaffa. It is about 40 miles north-west from Jerusalem, and stands on a conical eminence jutting out into the sea. Viewed from the Mediterranean Joppa has a pleasing appearance. The hill side upon which it stands is so steep that the houses seem almost to stand one on the top of another. They are built chiefly of white stone, and in the distance have an imposing effect. The roofs are flat, and many of them have domes on the top. The interior of the town has a dull, gloomy, comfortless aspect. The streets are narrow and uneven, and, like those of most eastern cities, exceedingly dirty. The whole town is surrounded with a wall, excepting the western side, which is bounded by the sea.. North and south of the town extends the Plain of Sharon, which in these parts is little better than a desert. |